Nano-tips based gas ionization chamber for neutron detection

Abstract

Methods and devices relating to a radiation detector comprising of a gas chamber having a cathode plate and a substrate separated by a gap. An array of nano-tips deposited on the substrate that forms an anode structure for electron charge collection. An external power source in communication with the cathode plate and the substrate, wherein the external power source is capable of generating a plurality of regions and each region includes an electric field near each nano-tip of the array of the nano-tips that results in initiating a radiation induced controlled discharge of electrons and ions from at least one gas or at least one gas mixture. Finally, the plurality of regions include multiple generated electric fields near tips of the array of nano-tips such as CNTs, that communicatively create a conductive path between the cathode plate and the substrate, the radiation detector is capable of determining at least one radiation property.

1. A radiation detector, the radiation detector comprising:
 at least one gas chamber including a cathode plate and a substrate, wherein the cathode plate and the substrate are separated by a gap; 
 at least one gas disposed within the gas chamber, wherein the gas is configured to produce electrons and ions through ionization in response to at least one ionizing particle traveling through the gas chamber; 
 an array of nano-tips disposed on at least a portion of the substrate to form an anode structure for attracting and collecting electrons; and 
 an external power source in communication with the cathode plate and the substrate, wherein the external power source is configured to generate an electric field near each nano-tip of the array of the nano-tips and the electric field is selected to (1) operate below a discharge region and (2) ionize the gas to produce further electrons and ions in response to electrons that drift towards the array of nano-tips; 
 wherein the radiation detector is configured to produce a signal based upon the electrons that are collected at the anode structure. 
 
     
     
       2. The radiation detector of  claim 1 , wherein the electric field is selected to generate an avalanche that produces a controlled ionization of the at least one gas to produce further electrons and ions in response to electrons that drift toward the array of nano-tips. 
     
     
       3. The radiation detector of  claim 1 , wherein the electric field is utilized to guide ions toward the cathode and electrons toward the anode. 
     
     
       4. The radiation detector of  claim 1 , wherein the electrical field is selected to amplify the number of electrons produced by the ionizing particle by a factor of  3  or more. 
     
     
       5. The radiation detector of  claim 1 , wherein the array of nano-tips is disposed over substantially an entire surface of the substrate. 
     
     
       6. The radiation detector of  claim 1 , wherein the array of nano-tips is disposed on the portion of the anode plate in a pattern, the pattern is selected from the group consisting of;
 a serpentine circuit, 
 a geometric design, 
 a non-geometric design, 
 a uniform design, 
 a non-uniform design, or 
 some combination thereof. 
 
     
     
       7. The radiation detector of  claim 1 , wherein the array of nano-tips is selected from the group consisting of one of:
 carbon nanotubes (CNTs); 
 single walled CNTs; 
 multi-walled carbon nano-tubes (MWNTs); 
 bundled or aligned CNTs; 
 staged nano-tubes on top of MWNTs; 
 shaped nano-wires; 
 nano-structures such as nano-grass; 
 micro-machined micro-tips from semi-conductor; 
 chemically etched micro-tips from semi-conductor; 
 wide-band gap materials along with metal coatings applied to the at least one gas chamber to enhance conductivity; or 
 micro-tips attached with natural formed structures. 
 
     
     
       8. The radiation detector of  claim 1 , wherein the array of nano-tips includes a plurality of point-like structures that enhance a local electric field suitable for initiating avalanches and are positively biased. for initiating avalanches that is for field emissions that is negatively biased. 
     
     
       9. The radiation detector of  claim 1 , wherein the signal is recorded by at least one processor in communication with the at least one gas chamber and the external power source. 
     
     
       10. The radiation detector of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an electric charge measuring device in communication with the substrate and capable of monitoring an amount of electric charge that is collected at the anode structure. 
 
     
     
       11. The radiation detector of  claim 1 , wherein the radiation detector has a width from about 100 μm to approximately 3 meters and a length from about 2 mm to approximately 3 meters. 
     
     
       12. The radiation detector of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one gas chamber has a shape selected from the group consisting of one of:
 a rectangular shape, 
 a cylindrical shape, 
 a wave-like shape, or 
 a fan-like shape. 
 
     
     
       13. The radiation detector of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one gas chamber is pressurized or depressurized. 
     
     
       14. The radiation detector of  claim 13 , wherein the pressure within the at least one gas chamber is controllable. 
     
     
       15. The radiation detector of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one gas within the gas chamber is one of a gas or a gas mixture. 
     
     
       16. The radiation detector of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one gas chamber has one or more operational regions. 
     
     
       17. The radiation detector of  claim 16 , wherein each operational region of the one or more operational regions includes one of:
 at least one pressure, 
 at least one gas, 
 a gas mixture, 
 or some combination thereof that fills the operational region. 
 
     
     
       18. The radiation detector of  claim 16 , wherein the one or more operational regions includes two or more operational regions, wherein each operational region has one of;
 a different pressure, 
 a different gas, 
 a different gas mixture, or 
 some combination thereof filling the operational region. 
 
     
     
       19. The radiation detector of  claim 1 , wherein the cathode plate is an electric conducting material. 
     
     
       20. The radiation detector of  claim 1 , wherein the substrate is material selected from the group consisting of one of conducting materials, non-conductive, or both. 
     
     
       21. The radiation detector of  claim 1 , wherein the gap distance between the cathode plate and the anode structure is from approximately 100 μm to approximately 10 cm. 
     
     
       22. The radiation detector of  claim 1 , wherein the cathode plate and the anode structure are separated by one or more spacer by a length from 100 μm to 10 cm. 
     
     
       23. The radiation detector of  claim 1 , the external power source generates a controlled voltage that provides for non-uniform electric field. 
     
     
       24. The radiation detector of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a gaseous neutron converter for converting a neutron into the at least one ionizing particle that travels through the at least one gas chamber, wherein the gaseous neutron converter is applied to a portion of the gas chamber. 
 
     
     
       25. The radiation detector of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a neutron converter for converting a neutron into the at least one ionizing particle that travels through the at least one gas chamber, wherein the neutron converter includes at least one layer of gadolinium or gadolinium isotopes with a thickness from 1 μm to 50 μm. 
 
     
     
       26. The radiation detector of  claim 1 , wherein at least one coating is applied to a portion of the at least one gas chamber, the at least one coating configured to convert a neutron into the at least one ionizing particle that travels through the gas chamber. 
     
     
       27. The radiation detector of  claim 26 , wherein the at least one coating is applied to a portion of the cathode plate. 
     
     
       28. The radiation detector of  claim 26 , wherein the at least one coating is applied to a portion of the anode structure. 
     
     
       29. The radiation detector of  claim 26 , wherein the radiation detector includes at least one three-dimensional structured surface, wherein the three-dimensional structured surface is selected from the group consisting of:
 a periodic structure, 
 a lattice structure, 
 a structure used in catalysts, or 
 a structure used in air-duct filters, a honeycomb structure. 
 
     
     
       30. The radiation detector of  claim 26 , wherein the at least one coating includes at least one of boron or boron enriched in the boron-10 isotope ( 10 B), and the at least one coating has a thickness from 0.5 μm to approximately 5 μm. 
     
     
       31. The radiation detector of  claim 26 , wherein the at least one coating includes at least one of lithium or lithium ( 6 Li) isotope, and the at least one coating has a thickness from 3 μm to approximately 50 μm. 
     
     
       32. The radiation detector of  claim 1 , wherein the radiation detector determines at least one radiation property based upon the signal, the at least one radiation property includes at least one of:
 detecting radiation, 
 detecting a location of the radiation, or 
 detecting a type of radiation. 
 
     
     
       33. The radiation detector of  claim 1 , wherein the electric field is selected to operate within at least one of an ionization region, a proportional region, or a Geiger Müller region. 
     
     
       34. The radiation detector of  claim 33 , wherein the electric field is selected to operate within a proportional region. 
     
     
       35. An oil and gas field application radiation detector, the oil and gas field application radiation detector comprising:
 at least one gas chamber including a cathode plate and a substrate, wherein the cathode plate and the substrate are separated by a gap; 
 at least one gas disposed within the gas chamber, wherein the gas is configured to produce electrons and ions through ionization in response to at least one ionizing particle traveling through the gas chamber; 
 an array of nano-tips disposed on at least a portion of the substrate to form an anode structure for attracting and collecting electrons; and 
 an external power source in communication with the cathode plate and the substrate, wherein the external power source is configured to generate an electric field near each nano-tip of the array of the nano-tips and the electric field is selected to (1) operate below a discharge region and (2) ionize the gas to produce further electrons and ions in response to electrons that drift towards the array of nano-tips; 
 wherein the oil and gas field application radiation detector is configured to produce a signal based upon the electrons that are collected at the anode structure. 
 
     
     
       36. A portable radiation detector, the portable radiation detector comprising:
 at least one gas chamber including a cathode plate and a substrate, wherein the cathode plate and the substrate are separated by a gap; 
 at least one gas disposed within the gas chamber, wherein the gas is configured to produce electrons and ions through ionization in response to at least one ionizing particle traveling through the gas chamber; 
 an array of nano-tips disposed on at least a portion of the substrate to form an anode structure for attracting and collecting electrons; and 
 an external power source in communication with the cathode plate and the substrate, wherein the external power source is configured to generate an electric field near each nano-tip of the array of the nano-tips and the electric field is selected to (1) operate below a discharge region and (2) ionize the gas to produce further electrons and ions in response to electrons that drift towards the array of nano-tips; 
 wherein the portable radiation detector is configured to produce a signal based upon the electrons that are collected at the anode structure. 
 
     
     
       37. A neutron radiation detector structured and arranged for operation in one of subterranean environments, wellsite environments, or downhole environments for oil and gas field applications, the neutron radiation detector comprising:
 a cathode plate; 
 a substrate, wherein the cathode plate and the substrate are separated by a gap; 
 at least one gas disposed within the gas chamber, wherein the gas is configured to produce electrons and ions through ionization in response to at least one ionizing particle traveling through the gas chamber; 
 at least one neutron converter, wherein the neutron converter is configured to convert a neutron into the at least one ionizing particle that travels through the gas chamber; 
 an array of nano-tips disposed on at least a portion of the substrate to form an anode structure for attracting and collecting electrons; and 
 an external power source in communication with the cathode plate and the substrate, wherein the external power source is configured to generate an electric field near each nano-tip of the array of the nano-tips and the electric field is selected to (1) operate below a discharge region and (2) ionize the gas to produce further electrons and ions in response to electrons that drift towards the array of nano-tips; 
 wherein the radiation detector is configured to produce a signal based upon the electrons that are collected at the anode structure. 
 
     
     
       38. A portable neutron radiation detector, the portable neutron radiation detector comprising:
 at least one gas chamber including a cathode plate and a substrate, wherein the cathode plate and the substrate are separated by a gap; 
 at least one gas disposed within the gas chamber, the gas configured to ionize to produce electrons and ions in response to a charged particle traveling through the gas chamber; 
 at least one neutron converter for converting a neutron into the at least one charged particle that travels through the gas chamber; 
 an array of nano-tips disposed on at least a portion of the substrate to form an anode structure for attracting and collecting electrons; and 
 an external power source in communication with the cathode plate and the substrate, wherein the external power source is configured to generate an electric field near each nano-tip of the array of the nano-tips and the electric field is selected to (1) operate below a discharge region and (2) ionize the gas to produce further electrons and ions in response to electrons that drift towards the array of nano-tips; 
 wherein the portable neutron radiation detector is configured to produce a signal based upon the electrons that are collected at the anode structure. 
 
     
     
       39. A radiation detector, the radiation detector comprising:
 at least one gas chamber including a cathode plate and a substrate, the cathode plate and the substrate being separated by a gap; 
 at least one gas disposed within the gas chamber, the gas configured to ionize to produce electrons and ions in response to a charged particle traveling through the gas chamber; 
 an array of nano-tips disposed on at least a portion of the substrate to form an anode structure for attracting and collecting electrons; 
 an external power source in communication with the cathode plate and the substrate, wherein the external power source is configured to generate an electric field near each nano-tip of the array of the nano-tips and the electric field is selected to (1) operate below a discharge region and (2) ionize the gas to produce further electrons and ions in response to electrons that drift towards the array of nano-tips; and 
 a processor configured to receive a signal based upon the electrons that are collected at the anode structure and the processor is configured to detect radiation based upon the signal. 
 
     
     
       40. A neutron radiation detector, the radiation detector comprising:
 at least one gas chamber including a cathode plate and a substrate, the cathode plate and the substrate being separated by a gap; 
 at least one gas disposed within the gas chamber, the gas configured to ionize to produce electrons and ions in response to a charged particle traveling through the gas chamber; 
 at least one neutron converter for converting a neutron into the at least one charged particle that travels through the gas chamber; 
 an array of nano-tips disposed on at least a portion of the substrate to form an anode structure for attracting and collecting electrons; and 
 an external power source in communication with the cathode plate and the substrate, wherein the external power source is configured to generate an electric field near each nano-tip of the array of the nano-tips and the electric field is selected to (1) operate below a discharge region and (2) ionize the gas to produce further electrons and ions in response to electrons that drift towards the array of nano-tips; 
 wherein the radiation detector is configured to produce a signal based upon the electrons that are collected at the anode structure.